A1
想, 要, 識 and 可以
The Cantonese modal verbs, and why 我會講廣東話 does not mean what a Mandarin speaker thinks it means.
All four go in front of the main verb and none of them change form.
想 — feel like, would like
The soft one, and the safe choice for a beginner saying what they want.
我想飲咖啡。
Ngo5 soeng2 jam2 gaa3fe1.
I’d like a coffee.
要 — want, need to, going to
Firmer: a decision taken, or an obligation.
我要走喇。
Ngo5 jiu3 zau2 laa3.
I’m off.
As in Mandarin, 唔要 is closer to a refusal than to don’t want. 唔想 is the gentle version.
識 — know how to
This is the one to get right. A learned skill is 識, not 會.
我識講廣東話。
Ngo5 sik1 gong2 Gwong2dung1waa2.
I can speak Cantonese.
佢唔識揸車。
Keoi5 m4 sik1 zaa1ce1.
He can’t drive.
我會講廣東話。
我識講廣東話。
Mandarin 会 covers both know how to and will. Cantonese splits them: 識 is the skill, and 會 is only about likelihood. 我會講廣東話 lands as I will speak Cantonese — a statement about the future, not about what you can do.
會 — will, probably
Kept for the future and for likelihood, which is its whole job here.
聽日會落雨。
Ting1jat6 wui5 lok6jyu5.
It’ll rain tomorrow.
可以 — allowed to, able to in the circumstances
Permission and possibility, not skill.
呢度可以食煙呀？
Ni1dou6 ho2ji5 sik6jin1 aa4?
Can you smoke here?
我今日唔得閒。
Ngo5 gam1jat6 m4 dak1haan4.
I haven’t got time today.
得閒 is free, at leisure — one of the most useful words in the language, and 唔得閒 is how most invitations get declined.
The short version
- 想 — I feel like it
- 要 — I intend to, or I have to
- 識 — I learned how
- 可以 — I am allowed to, or nothing is stopping me
- 會 — it is likely to happen